Sound-recording apparatus

ABSTRACT

A sound-recording apparatus has a two channel sound-recording carrier. One channel carries an instrumental or the vocal part of a composition, while the other channel carries the body of this composition with the exception of the part carried on the first channel. Means are provided for transferring one channel on a second carrier and for reproducing sounds of the other channel. A microphone is provided for adding the singing or playing of the user on said second carrier.

United States Patent [191 Froidevaux 1 1 Oct. 22, 1974 1 SOUND-RECORDING APPARATUS 2,557,031 6/1951 lsbcnjiun 179/1002 MD [76] lnventor: Antoinette Froidevaux, 5, rue 3,662,121 5/1972 Cruger 274/4 C Switzerland 22 i June 3 97 Primary Examiner-Harry N. Haroian Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Emory L. Groff; Emory L. [211 Appl. No.: 262,314 Gmff,

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data l ABSTRACT June 18, 1971 Switzerland 8897/71 I A und-r c rd ng apparatus has a two channel sound-recording carrier. One channel carries an in- [52] US. Cl.....- 274/1 R, 274/46 trumental or the vocal part of a composition, while [51] Int. Cl. Gllb 13/00, G1 lb 5/80 the h r' h nnel rrie the ody f hi c mpo ition [58] Field of Search 35/35 C, 8 A; with the exception of the part carried on the first 179/ 100.4 ST, 100.2 R; 274/4 R, 1 R, 46, channel. Means are provided for transferring one 41.4, 43 channel on a second carrier and for reproducing sounds of the other channel. A microphone is pro- [56] Reference Cit d vided for adding the singing or playing of the user on UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1950 Block 274/46 R said second carrier.

1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures SOUND-RECORDING APPARATUS Although the practice already exists of recording on a sound carrier, such as a record or magnetic tape, part only of the instrumentation of a musical composition, so as to enable amateur instrumentalists or singers to accompany the performance of the desired composition, the use of such sound carriers has been confined to persons who can read music since, in order to keep time, they must follow the accompanying music on a The purpose of the present invention is to enable persons who have not studied music to practise their art to a musical accompaniment, without having to be able to read a musical score.

The object of the invention is a device designed to permit multiple sound-recording, including a twochannel sound-recording carrier, characterized in that one of the sound channels carries only a vocal or instrumental part of a composition and the other channel carries the composition in its entirety, except the part recorded on the first channel.

The attached drawings show by way of example an embodiment of the device according to this invention.

FIG, 1 is a diagramm illustrating the mode of operation of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 shows said embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a two channel soundreproducing device 1 has two outlets 2 and 3, one for each channel. A recording carrier, not shown on the diagramm, forms part of the device 1. This carrier, which may consist of a record or magnetic tape of the type used for stereophony, includes two recording channels or tracks. The channel whose signal is carried to outlet 3 incorporates the vocal part of a musical recording. All other parts of the performance are recorded on the other channel, their signal being transmitted through outlet 2.

The signals coming from outlets 2 and 3 are transmitted to two earphones 4 and 5 of a stereophonic headpiece. Additionally, outlet 2 is connected to inlet 6 of a recorder 7, which also has another inlet 8 connected to a microphone 9.

The device is used in the manner described below:

A user 10 applies the earphones to his ears, and listens through one of the earphones to the vocal part coming from the device 1, while the other earphone reproduces the instrumental accompaniment. The user sings in time into'microphone 9, so that the recorder 7 receives both the background music transmitted directly by the reproducing device 1 and the singing of the user into the microphone 9. In this manner, the user is able to substitute his own voice for that of the original vocalist.

As can be seen in F IG. 2, the device may be executed as a single apparatus 11, consisting of two cassettes 12 and 13, cooperating with a reading and/or recording head 14 and 15 respectively. Apparatus 11 includes a loudspeaker l6 and various electronic components, not separately shown, in particular a two channel reproducing device for the recordings of cassette 12, together with an electronic component for recording on cassette l3. lt also has two outlet terminals 2 and 3, one

for each channel of cassette 12, and an incoming terminal 17 for the microphone plug.

The driving device for the magnetic'tape of cassettes 12 and 13 maybe run by a-single motor, and internal connections may be provided for transmitting the sig nal from outlet terminal 2 to the recording amplifier of cassette 13. Two control buttons 18 and 19 are provided for adjusting the level of the sound transmitted directly by the recording of cassette l2, and through the microphone, respectively.

' A button 20 permits synchronous reverse operation of the magnetic tapes in cassettes 12 and 13. The possibility of synchronous reverse operation affords the advantage of making it possible to repeat passages whose original recording has been unsatisfactory. The vocal performer can thus correct his recording on cassette 13, and at the same time listen to the passage on cas- 'sette 12.

It is clear that the driving of both cassettes by a single motor facilitates synchronous reverse operation.

It should be understood that the application of this device is not confined to the case of a user wishing to substitute his voice for that of a celebrated vocalist. For

example, part of a musical performances instrumentation may be recorded on a separate channel. A performer could thus obtain a musical recording in which the part corresponding to his own instrument is recorded separately from the body of the performance. In this manner, he could substitute his own playing for that on the original recording.

Needless to say, the user does not need to make a new recording of the background music to which he adds his own performance. The microphone used by the performer and the signal corresponding to the musical accompaniment could readily be connected to an amplifier, so as to ensure complete and instantaneous sound reproduction.

I claim:

1. Musical instruction and entertainment apparatus comprising in combination, a two channel sound reproducing device one of said channels reproducing only the vocal part of a musical composition, the other of said channels reproducing only the instrumental accompaniment, outlet means connectedto each of said channels, a sound recording device including two inlet members, a microphone connected to one of said inlet members, the other of said inlet members connected to said outlet means of the channel reproducing only the musical accompaniment, a pair of earphones, one of said earphones connected to the outlet means of the channel reproducing only the vocal part of the musical composition, the other of said earphones connected to the outlet means reproducing only the instrumental accompaniment, whereby the user of the apparatus can listen to the vocal part of the musical composition through one earphone and the instrumental part of the musical composition through the other earphone and sing into the microphone. so that the recording device receives both the instrumental part of the composition and the singing of the user simultaneously, thus permitting the user to substitute his own voice for the voice of the original vocalist. 

1. Musical instruction and entertainment apparatus comprising in combination, a two channel sound reproducing device one of said channels reproducing only the vocal part of a musical composition, the other of said channels reproducing only the instrumental accompaniment, outlet means connected to each of said channels, a sound recording device including two inlet members, a microphone connected to one of said inlet members, the other of said inlet members connected to said outlet means of the channel reproducing only the musical accompaniment, a pair of earphones, one of said earphones connected to the outlet means of the channel reproducing only the vocal part of the musical composition, the other of said earphones connected to the outlet means reproducing only the instrumental accompaniment, whereby the user of the apparatus can listen to the vocal part of the musical composition through one earphone and the instrumental part of the musical composition through the other earphone and sing into the microphone so that the recording device receives both the instrumental part of the composition and the singing of the user simultaneously, thus permitting the user to substitute his own voice for the voice of the original vocalist. 